Metal car-roof.



J. J. HOFFMAN.

METAL CAR ROOF. APPLIUATION FILED MAY 19, 1908.

929,221 Y Patented July 27.1909. l l i I 2 sums-SHEET 1.

J. HOFFMAN.. MBTAL'GARROOR APILIOATION FAILED 19, 1908.

. Patented @111151221902 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATns PATENT Omron. I

JOHN J. HOFFMAN, OF sT. Louis, MissOURI, AssIGNoR To PETER n. MURPHY, or sfr. Louis.

' MISSOURI.

METAL CAR-ROOF.

Specification of LettersiPatent.

Patented July 27, 190e v To all whom 'it may concern: v

13e 1t known that I, JOHN J'.y HOFFMAN, a cltlzen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain newand useful 'Improvements' in Metal Car- Itoofs, of which the following is a specificatlon containing a full, clear, and exact'description, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an all metal car roof, particularly adapted for metallic. rail- Way cars, and the object of my invention is to construct an arched car roof by utilizing a number of transverselyvdisposed.plates or sheets of steel, or the like, which sheets are slightly curved longitudinally and the edges -of which sheets are formed into ribs which are of inverted U-shape in cross section, thereby forming carlines between the sheets, thus doing away with the necessity of provlding auxiliary carlines or a roof frame.

A further object .of my invention is to provide cap plates Which are located at the corners of theroof sheets, and which plates are so constructed as to provide a erfect Water and vdust tight joint between t e corners of an adjacent pair of roof sheets.

A further obj ect of my invention is to prolvide simple and substantial means for attaching the runnirgfboard to the carlines formed on the sides of the roof sheets.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more full T set forth, pointed out.

in the claims, and il ustrated in the accompanying drawinvs, in which:

Figure 1 1s a p an view of a portion ot a car roof of my unproved construction; Fig. 2 1s an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of i .or sheets.

l Fig. 9 is an elevation looking toward 'the edge of the completed roof.

In the construction of my improved car roof, I utilize a number of rectangular sheets 1, of steel,^or the like, and which sheets are of sufficient length to extend from oneside' 'of thecar to the other, and these sheets are each plate or sheet fits snugly wit-hinuthe corresponding bent edge of the adjacent sheet or plate, thus forming carlines between the joints'of all the sheets or plates,'which carlines are composed of two thicknesses of metal, and the material bent to form said carlines is so shaped as thatsaid carlines are highest at their centers and gradually taper in height toward their Outer ends, thus providing a very strong and substantial structure which is an integral part of the roof,y and which obviates the useof auxiliary carlines or a roof frame. c plate 1 between thebent Formed in each side edges thereof 1s a plurality of longitudinally disposed ribs 3, which materially strengthen the central portions of the plates The ends of all of the bent side edges 2 ofthe plates 1 are cut away, as designated by 4, and the adjacentportions of the plates at the corners thereof are bent or pressed upward to a slight degree, as designated by 5, and whenvthe rootl is assembled sheet metal ca plates-'6, which are substantially rectangu ar .in plan View, are inserted l beneath the upwardly bent portions 5 at the corners of the plates 1, and' formed integral with the central portions of the plates 6 are inverted U-shaped ribs 7, which fit snugly beneath the ends of the carlines formed by the inverted U-shaped bent edges 2. These vsaid plates and carlines.

cap plates are rigidly fixed to the corners-of the plates 1, and tothe carlines,.by means of rivets '9 or similar fastening devices passing through the thicknesses of metal 'forming inner ends of The edgesof the sides and plates 6 are bent slightly upward,

as designated' by 10, which upwardly bent edges fit tightly against 'corresponding shoul-v I'ders 11, formed at the edges of'tlie upwardly bent portions 5,' thu-s forming a perfect water and dust proof joint between the corners of i the plates 1 and the cap plates 6, The outer,

en ds 'ofthe cap plates 6 are in' alinement with the ends of the plates 1, and said plates 6'and 1 are rigidly fixed to the upper side plates 12of the car bodyby meansof rivets 13,'01 similar fastening devices, and the ledges of said plates 6 and 1 are bent around fthe outer edge oftlie plates 12, as designated by 14., thus rigidly connecting the entire roof structure with the corner' plates -12 of -the carbody7 wliich'are supported by the.

side'posts or stanchions 15.

Running board saddle irons 16 are' constructed. 'ofl sections -of heavy sheet. metal, one side ofeachsaddle iron being formed to ,fit overthe central portion of the carlines, land these saddle irons' are rigidly fixed toV the' carlines by meansl of rivets -1 7,lor similar fastening devices, -and rigidly fixed in any suitable manner to the laterally projecting ortions of said saddle irons'is the running oard 18. l

Safety rails 19 are arranged Von the roof between. the running board and the sides of said roof, which safety rails are rigidly'supported by means of brackets 20, ixedto the carlines.

'In my improved construction, the carlines .are an integral part of the roof,`and said carlines are so formed as to combine minimum Weightwith maximum. strength, and the sheets or plates ofwhich Vthe roof is formed fare easily and cheaply manufactured,l and are readily assembled for use.

T he ribs 3 strengthen the central portions yof the roof plates, and the cap plates form simple and compact eonnection'between the corners of the plates, and provide an air and dustproof joint at said corners and at the i l. An all metal' supported metal plates having raised in I ends of the carlines4 car roof comprising selfverted U-shaped flanges at the meeting edges thereof, the fianges of adjacent plates intein locking to constitute hollow carlines, substanto eaves,

tiallyas described.

- f2. An all metal car roof comprising selfsupported metal plates extending from eaves saidplates having raised rebent "flanges at their margins interlocking to con- "ff-.stitute hollow ca rlines, substantially as described..

i 3. all metal ear .roof comprising self-rv supported metal sheets having raised rebent marginal flanges'extending from eaves to eaves, said `-flanges interlocking to constitute carlines,-and cap plates fixed tothe ends'of sheet having'a of .said ca rline. t

4. all metal car supported metal sheets having raisedrebent marginal flanges extending from eaves to eaves, said flanges interlocking to constitute carlines, and cap plates fixed .to the ends of said' carline, each cap' plate comprisinga plate having aiflange' adap'ted'to hook over the eaves and a. struck up portion adapted `to fit in the 'end of the carline.

5. A carzroof com rising metal sheets having rebentmargina flanges extending from eaves 4to eaves, said flanges interlocking to constitute earlines,`and Vcap plates at the .70 said carlines, le acl i capA plate comprising a portion struck up to fit inside' roof comlgirising self-' y lso ends of said carlines, each' cap. plate come prising a portion struck up to fit in the end of the vcarline :and a body. portion restingflatwise on thesideplate of the car, andthe corner portions of the sheets being struck upv to fit.'

over the body portion of said cap plates.

' 6. A car roof ,com rising metalsheets having rebent margina flanges extending from eavesto eaves, said fianges interlocking to constitute carlines, and cap plates atthe ends of said carlines,each plate comprising a portion struck up to fit in the end of thecarline, a -body portion fittin flatwise against the sideplate of the car, an la raised rib near the margin-of the body portion, `the roofing sheets being struck up and grooved tofit over said cap plates.

ing heavy sheets having laterally'projecting portions adapted to receive the running boards. j 9. A' car roof constructed of a Series of form an arched roof whenl the plates areasseiiibled, carlines formed' at the meeting edges of the platesby bending said edges yso that the saine interlock-when th'eplates are positioned for use, and cap plates inserted beneath the corners of the p' a the ends of the-earlines.l 1

10. A car roof constructed of a series of plates which are curved longitudinallyr so as izo 1 plates which are curved longitudinally so 'as to tes and beneath I -'neaththe vcorners o1' t ie plates and beneath. 1 the ends of the carlines, and running board .to'folm an arched roof whenthe plates-are i "assembled, oailines formed at the meeting edges of theplates by bending said edges so In testimony whereof, I'have -signed my h subscribing Witnesses.

that t e same interlock when the plates are I y. l

positioned for use, oa) plates inserted be- JOHN J' HOFFMAN NVitnesses:

M. P. SMITH,

supports xed on top of theoarlines.. E. L. WALLACE.

name to this specification, in-prsenoe of two 10 

